Alcatel, Marubeni seal $20m contract

BANDUNG, West Java (JP): The state-owned domestic telecommunications operator PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has signed a US$20 million contract for the country's first digital microwave project with Alcatel of France and Marubeni of Japan.

The contract was signed by Telkom's president, Setyanto P. Santosa, the sales of director of Asia Alcatel Telspace, Alain Lasman, regional director of international division (Asia) of Alcatel CIT, Jean Pierre Joly, and Marubeni's information network director, Tetsuya Yanagi, here on Wednesday evening.

Alcatel Telspace will be responsible for the supply, installation and commissioning of a 1,500 synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) digital microwave transmission backbone in areas between Banda Aceh in Aceh and Palembang in South Sumatra.

"The project will cover 59 locations, including 29 repeater stations and 30 terminal stations. The project will be completed within 24 months," Setyanto said.

He said that in the turnkey contract, to be financed by the Asian Development Bank, Alcatel CIT, the telephone unit of the French Alcatel Alsthom, will supply the network management system, while Marubeni will take charge of the towers and the civil works.

Setyanto said that Telkom will return the 20-year loan to ABD with its own investment.

The installation of the radio links will be performed by PT Alcatel Enkomindo, a join venture created by Alcatel and Bimantara Group of Indonesia, in order to provide custom-tailored services for the country's telecommunications market.

The project will also involve eight local contractors in the construction of the towers. (pet/icn)